City of SeaTac Replaces Fourth of July Fireworks with Drone Show at Angle Lake

Resident Complaint Prompts Review of Lake Access and Usage

The City of SeaTac in Washington State has decided to replace its traditional Fourth of July fireworks show at Angle Lake with a drone show this year. The decision comes after a resident complained about restricted access to the lake during a separate event, which led the city to review its use for the Independence Day celebration as well, reports King 5.

According to Kyle Moore, the City of SeaTac government relations and communications manager, the city determined that it cannot permit any activity that would shut down access to the entire lake for individuals.

“It becomes a point of access to the lake — does everyone have equal access to the lake? That led to the broader discussion of permits for the lake,” Moore said.

Fireworks Shows May Restrict Lake Access

In recent years, the city has used barges on Angle Lake to set off fireworks. However, due to property purchases around the lake, the public shoreline has had to be closed to load the barges. The city realized that this practice may restrict access to much of the lake, similar to the issue raised by the resident regarding hydroplane races.

Mixed Reactions to the Decision

The decision to replace fireworks with a drone show has received mixed reactions from the community. The citizen who made the initial complaint about the hydroplane races stated that they did not intend to impact the fireworks show and personally have no issue with it or believe it restricts access. Additionally, a neighbor has launched a petition regarding the matter.

The nonprofit organization that previously co-sponsored the fireworks with the city is currently exploring the possibility of holding its own Independence Day fireworks show separate from the city’s drone show.

Environmental and Safety Concerns

In addition to the primary reason for the decision, the City of SeaTac has also begun to invest more effort in protecting the environmental quality of Angle Lake, which may have played a role in the change.

“There’s access issues, environmental issues and safety issues,” Moore explained. “When you’re loading explosives onto a barge, there’s a safety issue for not only the public but also the staff members there to block off the area as they’re loading the barges.”

Growing Popularity of Drone Shows

The City of SeaTac acknowledges that this change may be significant for many people. However, drone light shows have grown in popularity in recent years, with the nearby city of Des Moines also hosting a drone show last year.

Moore highlighted the benefits of drone shows, stating, “It’s environmentally friendly, it’s friendly to the Wildlife, it’s friendly to the shore, the lake and keeping it healthy, and it’s also friendly to animals and people that may have PTSD, or other things like that. They won’t hear the loud explosions and have dogs rattled by those explosions which is an issue every year with fireworks shows.”

As the City of SeaTac prepares for its first Fourth of July drone show at Angle Lake, residents can expect a new and innovative way to celebrate the holiday while ensuring equal access to the lake and addressing environmental and safety concerns.

Photo courtesy of GoPro.